Hitch



July 18, 1933. HOFFMAN 1,918,391

HITCH Filed Jan. 19, 1931 A TTORNE Y Patented Juiy I JOHN E. mamm l Mo' in n; innii ioisf nss-renfoa ro Banana conrmyon- This inventionreiatesfto;a ;spring'cnshinning hi tchdeyl ce, and 15 more part cularly V directed to a hiteh .dei ice hff the character.

utilized for connecting an agricultnral lm- I p p I v a I ingjdetalled descr ption Joja'preferredem- Qb'odiinentfof the invention.

5 p e ftoa dent here ar li iwgr cultural implements' which are so constructed as to havea preparatory operationoi adj us'tmen p fo m d 19.01 m.. by apli backward thrust on the pnlllng member or w draft bart l 1ereof. w Anrim plenient of the aforesaid type has been illnstrated in the drawing to, show; the general. application of theehitch device; comprising; the present m vention to such an implementp ;f-

Thepriniary ohjectfiof the present inven tion is to provideaineans forhitching an in plement' to' a tractor, which lwilllfuncti on to cushion and' yieldingly transmitthe draft n force of the "pulling vehiclefor tracto'rv as the latte1 ovelcomes the StatlO OI draft cad 0 mlsr ypo the hltchpdgvlce onglm 4++i QfFi'gureQ and looking in the direction the pulledvehicle or implemena'and which will function in the samecapacity ,of'cushilomng and absorbmg theishock oi the back: aiAlth jtigha Preferred eInbodi ment oifi e invention is illnstrated and describedas assoa ward thrnst whenathe pulling vehiclewis backed up relative to thep nlled-vehicle Another objectcf the. invention is tov pro I vide a hitching-means ofthe aboveidescrlbe'd character, wherein a sin'gle spring is utilized to cushion and yiel'dingly transmit the draft 7 force of the pnlii'ng vehicle-When the latter operates in either direction ofimotion namelyQwhetherit is'pnliing or pushing pulled vehicle. v p

Another objectfis-to'pitovide means Where'- by the spring wi-H ciishijon and".abs 0rb the shocks in compression" for both directions of travel ofthe pulling ifehicle.

Another-object of the iri fention' pro-2 4G vide a spring] 'cnshioning9hitch devieethat.

will operatively functionte cushion the for- 50 low cost, andwhicharereadiiy replaceable Figure 2 isa plan iew sea fe' 6f the hitch deyice with a portionthere+ 0' broken away "to expose the cushioning spring and'the associated parts Q7 Ward thrust of the tractor, a device cont rch:

'fOther obj ects "In the; drawing" 111 mentcl g {Figural isa general planview of a disk' to a madame-bar;

Figur ifl'is across sectional View taken of thei'arrowslf ciatedfwith diskharrom'this is only bywa'y jcf example asi'it is ;entirely.within the scope o ffthe iinyention tontilizetheusame between i v anyitw'o pullingand pnIled vehicles tolflincjtion in the capacityfor which it isdevised. #9

" -The j diskharrowji 6 illustrated in cemprises apair of gangs 7 and 8disposed subjstaijitia-lly abreast'of each other 'in oppo- 7 sit ely extendin g relation,acentral or inteii- 'inejdiateldraft tongue 9, and two outwardly extending lateral draft HlQfilbQI'S 11 and 12.

I Briefifl the disk harrow 6:1.is .Of the type wherein the propelling power of'theltlracter' for angling and straightening the disk gangs 7 andjS', thelatterbeing aceorn-' when itis backing rearwardly. [In oitderto f ienshioiitheforce of the ama on'theforward puu; of the tractor, or to cushion the back:

s'tructed' accordance. with" the present ,inyentionis'ntilized, The hitch device is'd'esig fnated 1S! and ma be Secured .m the draft tongue 9 any desired. InajnnerQ In this particular constriictiolnjthedouble action-hitch? 3 n Wee? 'tha br ak if 1 a d iifia of the in vemioniwill hereinafter appear in the follpw- I us ra l gis i embed? o'n an enlarged F'gnre ii'is a s ide elevationalv vievjv ofjthe- V 'hiteli' devi'ce as il'lii jstratedinFigure 2, and

' has been built into the harrow-as a unitary part thereof. It is mounted between, two i outer side members 14 and 15 constituting two of the four bar members which are riveted together to form an attachment means a or hitch, as a portion of'the draft tongue 9'. a The two inner bar members 16 and 17 areo'f [greater width than bar members 14 and seas-to project above the latter: bars as at- 18, and are provided with notches l9 in the projected portions thereof'for the reception of plungers carried by the latches 21jand 22;

' The function of backing and the use of latches 21 and 22 is clearly 'set forth in the copending. application of Charles H. White, Serial No.

312,325, filed October 13, 1928. It is obvious that, although the double action hitch "has been mounted on the draft tongue of-thej' harrow in the manner aforesaid, theffourvbars 14, 15, 16 and 17111313 be cutlto any desired length and may bebolted or otherwise Cu'red in any s'uitablemanner to the d aft tongue of any vehicle Y Referring now to Figuresf2, 3 and 4 it is seen thatthe bars and 15 are spreadiap'ar't to formga frame between whichthe 'double' acting hitch mechanism is supported." The hitchmechanism comprises a U-shaped hitch member 23 having its free ends 24 connected by means of a bolt 25 and properly spaced 7 by means of a sleeve. 26, The hitchmembera 23 is positioned for endwise movement by means of the plates 27 and 2 8. Each of the foregoing plates are providedwith opposite-v ly disposed cut-outs or slots on two faces guided between the projecting ends of the frame bars' which constitute guides 14a and- 15a, ,whilethe hitch'member 23 is slidably' mounted within the slots 31in said plates.- A throu'gh bolt 32 is disposed centrally'between the guides 14a and 15 and centrally between the legs ofhitch member 23. Thethreaded end of the bolt, is screwed into .plate 28 "while its shank end is loosely carried for endj wise movement in aligned-openings'in plate 27 and in the bent over end of the hitch 1 m mber 23. {A -boss 37 projectsfromthe cen tral"portion of the plate 28 t0. increase the a length of the threaded opening for receiving :the bolt 32. A shock absorbing compression spring 33 is interposed between the two plates}; "274 mm embraces bolt 32. Thisspring is at all times acting to force plates 27 and 28 "apart; The distanceb'etween plates 27 and .28 may be varied'toa limited extent if'de-i sired. This is determined b F that the threaded end 36 of b0 t32 is screwed into plate 28 a'nd'itsprojecting boss 37, as is through sleeve 39. V

the distance of the hitch member, while-plate 27 bears against the opposite side of the latter through the action of spring 33. j

= From theiforegoing it will be seen that the apparent from the fact thatthe head 34 of bolt 32abuts one side of the bent over end 35' double action hitch .I'nechanism, comprising members" 23, 27 28,32 and 33, is an independent unit-Which is "inserted between-the'guide w lends 14a and'1'50b others 14 and 15, and oper-f atesther ebetween. Inorder to eifec't the proper spring cushioning action, plates 27 and 28 must only be allowed to move against the outward action of the spring.- 1 It necessarily follows that one of said platesmust V 'a'lwaysbe held against movement as the other I of v sa-id plates is forcedagainst the action of the spring" andyiceversafx Thisis acl complished inthe following manner: The

lends ofthe inner bars 16' and; 17 are made to [follow the contour of'th'ebuter bars 14 and 15, and are cut short with their ends riveted to the'latter'thereby providingfabutments or disposed; This preventsmovement of plate 27 in one-direction,- ZMovement ofplate 28 instops 16d and 17a against-which plate 27, is

one'direction'lis prevented by mea'nsof afbolt 38 that extends through'aligned openings-in the ends of bars-14 andf15.- Bolt 38also'eX- V tends through a sleeve (39 which serves to" properly spacefthe 'ends of-bars 14 and 15 and acts asa stopfor plate 28 which is disposed adjacently to'the sleeve From this construction it is seen-that plates 27 and 28 can onlyimove inwardly against the action of spring 33an'd-awayfrom their respective stops; Furthermore, one plate is always The double: acting-"hitch am may i easily assembled and: connected to the im- -held'against'movement'as-the-other plate is made to approach it, thereby causing acom-spression of spring 32;

plement or-vehicle:wi th which it is utilized.

bled and] thereafter connected with a veconnected with the vehicleland the double action hitch mechanism, indicated as 41 in its entirety, may beu-nitarily vassembled and thereafter; slipped into placejbetween bars 14 and15, and bolt 38 then in'serted through its openings in the ends of the bars and x'It is alsoto be noted tha t the distance be 7 tween the outwardly disposed faces of plates 27 and28 may be so adjusted by bolt 32 as to be exactly equaltol the I distance between the abutmentsor stops 16a17a and the ad jacentface oredge of sleeve 39, as. is best illustrated Figure 2. Itis possible'tojob tain a limited amount ofloSt motion between the outwardly disposed faces of p1ates'27 28 and their respective stops if such is desired i under certain conditions. I "This is accom- The hitch device may, be-completely assent l hicle, or, the-connecting-draft member com prising bars 14 to 17-, .inclusive, may first be r plished by adjusting bolt ea'ashereiiibefore explained, and althouglrthe amountfotlost motion obtainableis "limited" in the particular constructionsl1own,;it is evident that the length of boss 37 may, be increased to' take care ofa considerable amount of adjustmentin the manner aforesaid. a i

The'hitch device is operable for allpositions' ofthe draft tonguepf the-pulledkv'ehicle with respect tothe draw -bar of the pulling vehicle; Hitch member-23B only capable of true endwise movement relative to the guide frame compr-ising members 14a and a, as is l The foregoing descriptionhasbeen contimed to the particular construction illustrated in the drawing, and. although this represents a preferredembodiment ofthe changes in the construction are possible without" departing fromthemetes and bounds of the present invention; -Thereforej the invention is not to be specifically limited to Y 5 the construction illustrated, but only: in so,

claims. 7

' WVhat I far as may be determined by the'appended claimis: -2

1. In a hitch device comprising a supportting frame having stops thereon disposed in' spaced relation to each other, a spring: con: fined between said stops, and a hitch mem- "ber embracing. said spring and moun'ted upon said frame. for sliding movementysaid hitch meinberhaving means for engaging when thedraft is in ajforwa'rd direction and having means for engaglngzlthe other "end of said spring to compress the-samewhen the means for compressingsaid spring in one direction, and said hitch member being coning said spring in the opposite-direction.

ing frame, ahitch member, andv a shock. absorbing mechanism: having aipair of plates slidably mounted -upon; said supporting frame and a spring disposed between-said plates and Within said frame, said L supporting frame having a-stop means to contact and limit the movementcf the first plate in one direction, and having a secondistop means to contact and limit the movement of said second plate in the opposite direction, said hitch member beingconnected with said first plate to compress the sprin in the one direction, and said supporting rame being determinedby the plates 27 and invention itis to be understood that various one end of said spring tocolnpress the same i nected with said guide mean'sifo'r compress ing a draftwconnection, -a pair off plates,

means connecting saidxgplates for relative fmovement with respect to eaoh' other', and

said :frame, a jspringcarried by said lneans and interposed between said plates,- and hitch means 'associatedf'withlthefirst of Said "plates,-'said frame'vh'aving means engaging Y the second Of'Sai'd plates for 'actllatingl h "same to compress said spring in onedirection, and said'hitch means being adapted to.

a'dapted to" move said second platein'fthe opposite direction through the instrumentalityof one ofsaiil stop means tocompress vv said springinthe opposite direction. F 14. Ahitch;devicecomprising a f'rame*hav-',

actuate said firstplate topomprssfsfiid spring-,in the opposite. direction.

5Lfl I n a hitch device, a frame adaptdt "be connectedfwith-the draft tongueof "a I .hicle, saidvframecomprising a forked mem-- :1-, p 9 r her having a firststopmeans connected with I the closed end thereof and a second S QP meanssecured in the open end thereofland' a shock absorbingimechanismcomprising a] pair of plates slidably. guided Withinvsaid-i member and disposed between'said two stop V aneans, a spring interposed between'said compress said spring in onedirectionyand the opposite direction.-

connected withthe' dratt tongue of a vehicle, saidiramehavingstops connected with each plates, and a hitch element cooperatingtwith i one ofs'aid plates for actuating the same to 'end ther'eof, a pair-H of plates guided within f said frame, and having. a spring interposed therebetweento forceeach ofthe latter into engagement-with each of saidistopsrespectively, andv'a hitch member associated with the first of said plates andv guided for e'ndA wisemovement by the'second of said plates, =saidwhitch member'being capable of ac'turating said first .plate laway from its corresponding stop to compress said spring in one direction, and said frame being capable of,

tu tingsaidfsecond plate/{by means of its to c'ompre'ss said 3 I hitch' device comprising a su Spring in e ODPOSI e direc 1011 corresponding plate stop '7.. a hitch device, a rframe adapted to be connected withthe draft tongue of a vehicle,

plate,saidjhitch member being capable o f guided'forendwise movement bythe second 6. Ina hitch device, a frameladapted .tobe 9 1 actua ting saidfirst plate away from'its correspondingcstop to compress saidsprin g-in one direction, and said frame being capable of. actuating said second plate by means'of I the corresponding plate stop to compresssaid 1 spring in theopposite direction. c. v

8. In a hitch device, a hitch member :comprising aframe carrying a pair of plates for sliding movement alongr said frame, a bolt i secured to' theufirst of said plates with the second plate slida'blylmounted on said bolt, a spring supported between said plates, and

a second hitch *member supported adj acent 'to 'the'secondrplate by means of saidvbolt 5 1 and guided: for-endwise movement by' means -ofsaid plates, and means carried by said i V 7 frame to impart movement to said first plate forcomPressing' said spring in one direc- 1 tion, saidsecond hitchrmenib'er"cooperating" '7 with said second plate to actuate-the latter,

for compressing the spring =in-theu-opposite direction. i

- 9. In a Z5" guided in vertical position between said bars,

730 to be guided thereby exteriorly of said mech- 5 lyo'conne'cted with said fork'and ,sli'dably' r 5 -when the hitch ly to each other.

anism for endw-ise movement parallel to the bars OfSfilCl fifStrl'lllZCh member,,and means carriedby said bars for cooperating with p p 7 forwardlycextendmg. draft frame compristhe other sides of saidplates whereby said. first hitch member is enabled tomove one'plate for 'con'lpressin-g said: spring, and said; secondhltch member is enabled-to move the other plate for-compresslng said spring.

101A hitch device comprising a .pairi'of 40 hitch members and shock absorb ng means operativelyconnectingsald 'members, said shoclrabsorbing means comprising a pair, of spring-separated plates '.connected with one of sal'd'menibers'and slidably mounted on the 1 '4 other ofsaid members," and means'carried by one of said members for.engagingthefouter sides! of thesplates for-regulating the movef-m'ents of said-plates;against said spring membeis are moved relativell. In a draft tongue having One'end-connectedwith a vehicle and withits other end comprising a double p'rong'edfOrk, the norm vblnation of shock absorlomg inea1isoperat1vecarriedidirectly upon the fork prongs of said tongue, and hitch means carried by "said 7 shock absorbingmeans for connection to v a hitch device,-a hitch member havv Fing parallel spaced .bars,xa pan of plates movement of said plates fsecondvehicle, said shock; absorbing means,

operatingto v cushion the force; created by l relative movement between the drafttongue and hitch 'means when said force" is acting in either direction along the'line ofdraft,

In a hitch devi e, a hitch member hav; ing parallel spaced bars, a pair of sto c v nected with each ofsaid bars in spaced relationtozeach other, a pair of slotted plates slidablynmoun'tedoupon said bars' and disterposed between said plates and within the posed" between said stops, resilientmeans in? bars,isaid resilient'means being adapted to p are dampened when said hitch members are Y moved relative. to each other through said shocks. 5

13. In a hitch idevice, a forked hitch meinber having' spaced stops ,connected thera A with, alresilient shock absorbing mechanism,

guide means confined between said stops and slidablyamo'unted on said forks to "support said resilient shock absorbing mechanism in operat1verelat1on, to said-forks, and a'sec ond-hitch member slidably mounted directly upon said guide; means, said second'hitch member having operative connection with said mechanism. a

14. In combinationwith an implement, a

ing four "bars in juxtaposition and forked at'their forwardendsgthe outer'bars extendingforwardly beyond the ends of the inner bars, bolt meansiconnectingthe ends of the extendedouter'bars, and shock absorbing including a pair'of spring pressed plates, said bolt beans and thefouter 7 ends of said inner bars comprising stopsf for limiting the 1 15; combination with-f an implement, a forwardly extending 7 draft frame com-prising a plurality of bars, certain of said barsv extending forwardly beyond the ends of the other bars, a member 'conn ecting the outer' c ends of said extended bars,and shocll absorbing hitch means supported-by thebars and compr slng a pair. of movable 'sprmgrpressed elements, said connecting member o'fsaid extended barsand the'ends of said other bars pressed" elements in operative relation to the bars and to limit the movement of'said ele 1 ments with respect to said-bars; f I

hitch means: connected with said bars and .1051 r I CERTIFIGAE or CORREGTION.

Patent No. 1,918,391. July 18, 1933.

JOHN E. HQFFMAN.

It is hereby certified that error in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 55, claim 11, for "with" read "Within"; and line 07, claim 14, for "beans" readf'means"; and that the said Letters Patent sheuid he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the recorri of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

